‘Anti-India environment’ grew under UPA rule, says Rajnath Singh

Nagpur, Feb 6 (IANS) There has been an “increasing build up of anti-India environment” in the neighbourhood, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Friday at its national conclave here adding that India should disassociate from the joint terror mechanism with Pakistan and instead act against terror on its own.Kicking off its three-day national executive and national council meet here, BJP president Rajnath Singh launched a scathing attack on the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government saying that “anti-India environment” has grown among neighbouring countries during its tenure.

The meeting is considered important as it is the last one before the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in April-May. As many as 8,000 party delegates are attending the meet, which will draw up the party’s roadmap and chalk out poll strategies for the elections.

“Under UPA tenure, there has been an increasing build up of anti-India environment in the neighbouring countries. But the kind of atmosphere that exists in Pakistan generates concern and it exposes our shortsighted and incompetent foreign policy,” said Rajnath Singh in his presidential speech at the national executive.

“India should dissociate itself from the joint terror mechanism which was declared on 16 Sep, 2006 in Havana, Cuba’s capital, by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the then president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, as their approach is not of cooperation but of treachery. Instead of showing dependence on any country, the central government should act strongly against terrorism on its own,” Singh said.

The BJP president further said that the war between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Sri Lankan army is reaching a decisive end and its far-reaching impact will be felt in India.

“The Tamil problem of Sri Lanka cannot be resolved only through the use of military force. The Sri Lankan government should undertake necessary steps to ensure the security and self-respect of around one and half lakh to three lakh (150,000-300,000) Tamil citizens trapped in the conflict zone,” Singh said.

Singh also said the upcoming elections were both a challenge and opportunity for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

“Our desire is that the NDA once again returns to power. We will have to work hard in our Lok Sabha constituencies to convert this opportunity into our goal,” Singh added.

The delegates include MPs, party legislators, chief ministers and senior leaders. The meet will adopt three resolutions - on the country’s “sagging” economy, the political situation and the turmoil in Sri Lanka.